Excerpts from New Cranes & Derricks Rule

1926.1408 Power line safety (up to 350 kV) – equipment operations.
(a) Hazard assessments and precautions inside the work zone. Before beginning equipment operations, the employer must:

(1) Identify the work zone by either:

(i) Demarcating boundaries (such as with flags, or a device such as a range limit device or range control warning device) and prohibiting the operator from operating the equipment past those boundaries, or

(ii) Defining the work zone as the area 360 degrees around the equipment, up to the equipment’s maximum working radius.

(2) Determine if any part of the equipment, load line or load (including rigging and lifting accessories), if operated up to the equipment’s maximum working radius in the work zone, could get closer than 20 feet to a power line. If so, the employer must meet the requirements in Option (1), Option (2), or Option (3) of this section, as follows:

(i) Option (1) – Deenergize and ground. Confirm from the utility owner/operator that the power line has been deenergized and visibly grounded at the worksite.

(ii) Option (2) – 20 foot clearance. Ensure that no part of the equipment, load line, or load (including rigging and lifting accessories), gets closer than 20 feet to the power line by implementing the measures specified in § 1926.1408 (b).

(iii) Option (3) – Table A clearance.

(A) Determine the line’s voltage and the minimum approach distance permitted under Table A (see § 1926.1408).

(B) Determine if any part of the equipment, load line or load (including rigging and lift accessories), while operating up to the equipment’s maximum working radius in the work zone, could get closer than the minimum approach distance to the power line permitted under Table A (see Section 1926.1408).  If so, then the employer must follow the requirements in paragraph (b) of this section to ensure that no part of the equipment, load line or load (including rigging and lifting accessories), gets closer to the line than the minimum approach distance. 

Table A (abbreviated)– Minimum Clearance Distances to 350 kV

Voltage (nominal, alternating current)	Minimum clearance distance (feet)
50 kV and below	10 feet
over 50 kV to 200 kV	15 feet
over 200 kV to 350 kV	20 feet

      

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